Mass Ecotourism vs. Eco Mass Tourism

Abstract

The paper conceptualises mass ecotourism and eco mass tourism as two intermediate forms of tourism in the ‘ecotourism-mass tourism’ dichotomy. An analytical framework is proposed (SDEF grid), based on two dimensions: scale of tourism development and ecological footprint of the respective type of tourism. Both the extreme (eco- and mass tourism) and the intermediate (mass eco- and eco mass tourism) types of tourism are evaluated in the context of the three dimensions of sustainable development (environmental, social and economic). The paper stipulates that mass ecotourism and the eco mass tourism might be better development options for the destinations than pure eco- and mass tourism.

Keywords: ecotourism, mass ecotourism, eco mass tourism, mass tourism, Bulgaria, sustainability